Herring River Restoration Project - 2011 Highlights

Friends of Herring River works independently of the Herring River Restoration Committee (HRRC), but derives information to disseminate publicly from HRRC work on the environmental review. Therefore, highlighting the events of 2011 can best be presented by covering the key activities of both Friends of Herring River and The Herring River Restoration Committee. Here are the 2011 highlights.

HRRC continues to work on the preparation of the draft EIS/EIR, heading toward public meetings in the spring of 2012. The Environmental Quality Division (EQD) of the National Park Service is managing the preparation of the draft EIS/EIR (DEIS) on behalf of the HRRC and has contracted with the Berger Group to conduct detailed studies.

Updates on the environmental study work to date were presented by the HRRC at the Friends of Herring River Annual Meeting in August and at the State of Wellfeet Harbor Conference in November. The updates included alternatives under consideration and a definition of impacts that are being evaluated. Over 500 brochures describing the alternatives were mailed by Friends of Herring River to interested agencies and individuals in the community.

Once the DEIS is published, interested individuals and agencies will have ample opportunities to comment on its content during public forums. The DEIS will provide a comprehensive analysis of project alternatives, adverse and beneficial impacts and mitigation measures.

The HRRC is developing an adaptive management plan that will describe management actions and lay out how the project will be monitored to achieve specified objectives.

Other work of HRRC over the year included continued hydrological modeling conducted by the Woods Hole Group regarding sediment transport and the effects of tide and salinity in the Herring River Estuary under different conditions. A cultural resource study was completed.

HRRC has coordinated closely with regulatory agencies to ensure all regulatory and legal matters are taken into consideration during the preparation of the draft EIS/EIR.

As in the past three years, Friends of Herring River had informational booths at the Wellfleet OysterFest and State of Wellfleet Harbor Conference where a significant number of individuals asked questions and received additional information about the progress of the restoration project. Friends' also participated in Harbor Fest in June and will do so again in 2012.

Friends of Herring River conducted tours of the estuary and visits to Hatches Harbor in Provincetown to show the effects of marsh restoration.

Friends of Herring River distributed an electronic newsletter periodically to over 500 subscribers in order to keep members of the public informed on the progress of the project and special events.

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Return of the Tide

Friends of Herring River has contracted with Moonshadow Media to produce a short video to educate the public about the value of a healthy salt marsh estuary and the expected benefits or restoring the historic tidal range in the Herring River.

Decades of environmental research have shown us that half of US coastal wetlands and salt marsh estuaries have already been lost to development and remaining systems are wedged precariously between inappropriate structures and a rising sea level. As we continue to witness climate change approaching our own doorstep, it is critical that these coastal systems are healthy and protected.

We expect the video to be available in late spring when the draft EIS/EIR is presented to the public for comment.